The Esquire Guide To Starting Your Own Country

Today, Japan is expected to lay claim to 280 small islands in a remote corner of its waters, much to the chagrin of neighbors/nemeses China and South Korea. Land grabs aren't anything new — it's how nations have expanded since the dawn of time. Last month, Canada decided to one-up Russia and declare that the North Pole fell under their jurisdiction, the upside being that Santa is much happier with universal health care and poutine than he is borscht and Putin.

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It's pretty crazy that the stick-a-flag-in-it-and-call-it-yours technisques of yore are still a viable method for claiming a hunk of real estate as your own, and it almost makes you wonder - just how hard would it be to go and do it yourself?

So you're sick of working for the man. Tired of taxes, and laws you don't like. Over the constant muckraking BS of politicians. Maybe you're looking for the perfect place to build an ultra-secure data haven, safe from Big Brother's (or anyone else's) prying eyes? Why not just start your own country? It's easier than you think, provided you have the resources. Here's a barebones rundown of options for the upstart nation builder.

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Build your own island.

Most of the land in the world has been claimed by existing governments. That said, once you get past each existing land mass' 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone, and well into international waters, it's fair game. Unfortunately, it's also deep. Really, really deep. Which means that you're going to need to get a whole bunch of clean fill, transport it to your desired location, dump it, and repeat until it piles up enough to pierce the surface and is stable enough to build upon. Sound like too much work? Well, you could always...

Buy an existing island. While it will set you back anywhere from $29,000 to a whopping $160 million, what's a little cash for your own Camelot? Smaller countries are often willing to sell islands, and if you offer enough money, we're sure they'd be happy to relinquish sovereign control as well. Again, it's expensive, but what they heck? You're going to be literally printing your own money soon anyway, right?

Take Over An Existing Country.

This is a tried and true method of gaining control of a turnkey nation. We'd recommend starting with somewhere small, that doesn't have a lot of military allies, because, well, you're just one man, you know? Although if you're charismatic enough, or again, have enough money, we're sure you can convince some restless natives to join you in your coup attempt. Or you can hire one of many private military forces, just like the US government does overseas.

Lay Claim To Antarctica.

Okay, so it's pretty cold, and covered in a sheet of ice that's about a mile thick. Well, for now. But Antarctica is also 5.4 million square miles of unclaimed territory, at least officially. Unofficially, several sovereign states claim ownership of chunks, from England to Chile, and there are also several superpowers, such as the US and Russia, who have mining operations. But with all that space, we're sure you can find a corner to hunker down in and relive those Empire Strikes Back fantasies. Plus, there are treaties in place banning military action of any kind, so you'll be relatively safe. As long as you have enough blankets to withstand an average temperature of -70 degrees, that is. Not sounding too hospitable? Well, you can always…

Colonize Space.

This seems, at least politically, like the easiest move. Unfortunately, technologically it may be the hardest. Although there has been some movement in the private sector as far as actually getting you into space. You could, for example, book a flight on the Virgin Galactic for a mere $250,000. Maybe they can drop you off somewhere?

All this sounds like a hugely expensive, dangerous pain in the neck, huh? Not to mention all the work it's going to be once you're set up, such as dealing with energy, security, the economy, education... Whew! Well, lucky for you, there are others out there with the same anti-allegiance aspirations, and they're making it happen — or they're at least well on their way. Here are some options:

These guys are working towards the creation of floating cities, full of "startup governments", much like you'd see an IT company start up in their native California. Founded by the grandson of a Nobel Prize winner and his philanthropist pal, the Institute is currently working out the logistics such as engineering, legalities and politics for their visions of new aquatic regimes. You can make a tax-deductible donation now to their Indigogo campaign to help them further design plans.

Founded on an old floating British fort from World War II, Sealand was founded in 1967 by pirate radio DJ Major Paddy Roy Bates. It was officially recognized as a micronation by England in 1968, as it existed outside their three mile territorial waters. Sealand went on to issue over 150 thousand passports for expats of all kinds, has their own currency, and even had a takeover in 1978 from Alexander Achenbach, who hired a small unit of mercenaries to aid him. Bates regained control, however, and his family exists there to this day, though England has since expanded their territorial claim to twelve miles, which likely negates Sealand's sovereign status.

Claiming to be a "startup community for entrepreneurs," Blueseed will be based on a ship anchored 12 miles off the coast of Silicon Valley, where they will allow the "boldest and brightest" in the tech world to come together and work, free of pesky government regulation, for around $1600 a month. They've done their research, as you can see on their site, and it looks like this may actually happen. Planned launch is in the fall of 2014, so now's the time to get your affairs in order.

Suddenly realize that you have a propensity for seasickness? Well, lucky for you there's one more option, and this may be the easiest to get to and live in. Especially with all these relaxed marijuana laws.

Founded by John Lennon and Yoko Ono on, when else, April Fool's Day in 1973, Nutopia is a nation that knows no boundaries, existing, as it does, conceptually and claiming "no laws other than cosmic". Just what you were looking for.